A new study has tied air pollution from oil and gas to tens of thousands of premature deaths in the US each year. Researchers estimate that emissions from the fuels are responsible for 91,000 early deaths, 10,350 preterm births, 216,000 new cases of childhood asthma, and 1,610 cancers annually.
The findings, published on August 22 in Science Advances, examined the full lifecycle of oil and gas and the pollutants they produce—including fine particles (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, and ozone. The US, the world’s top producer of both oil and natural gas, relies heavily on these fuels, which, along with coal, remain the leading global sources of greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change.
While this study focused on the US, the health risks from air pollution extend far beyond its borders. Air pollution is a major global health threat, according to the World Health Organization. People around the world are constantly exposed to harmful pollutants, from smog over cities to poor indoor air quality. More than 99% of the global population faces dangerous levels of air pollution, which significantly increases the risk of serious illnesses.
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